Methods and systems for handling or delivering materials for natural orifice surgery

ABSTRACT

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical systems, including systems that can be used in conjunction with medical devices used in endoscopic surgery. Certain embodiments include various material handling devices that can transport materials between the inside and the outside of an endoscopic surgery patient.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/371,361, filed Aug. 6, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with government support under Grant No. 2611120123004 awarded by the Department of Defense Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). Accordingly, the government may have certain rights in the invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to various material handling and/or delivery systems and related components, including material handling and/or delivery systems for performing surgical procedures through a natural orifice or a single incision. Certain embodiments include various material handling and/or systems for performing surgical procedures in the peritoneal cavity of a patient.

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic medical procedures have been in use for nearly a century, and are used for a number of procedures such as foreign object removal, ultrasonic imaging, injection therapy, and perhaps most recently for surgical procedures. Endoluminal endoscopic surgery traditionally uses flexible instruments introduced through canals (working channels) in an endoscope to perform a number of procedures, mainly in the peritoneal cavity.

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a surgical procedure done endoscopically through an incision in tissue (e.g., stomach, colon, vagina, or bladder) accessible via a natural orifice (e.g., mouth, anus, urethra, or vagina) and can be done without external incisions, reducing the risk of infection and speeding recovery. The natural orifice access point, while having many patient benefits, presents challenges for introducing instrumentation through a restrictive lumen size, and when using multiple tools, as typical in many laparoscopic procedures for example, tool triangulation can be difficult.

An alternative to traditional endoscope based techniques is using in vivo robots via a natural orifice approach. These in vivo robots can be fully introduced into the peritoneal cavity. Once inserted, these robots have much more freedom and flexibility, as space constraints and tool triangulation issues are greatly reduced in the insufflated abdominal cavity.

Fully inserting in vivo robots into the body introduces a limitation as they are physically isolated from the medical professionals performing the procedure. Without external incisions, there is also a need for additional functional features, such as workspace lighting, a method of irrigating and evacuating fluids produced during procedures, and any other functionalities commonly associated with traditional endoscopic procedures.

There is a need for an improved material handling system for use with surgical procedures.

SUMMARY

One embodiment disclosed herein relates to a system for handling and/or delivering materials during endoscopic surgery, the system including a compliant overtube, a material capture device, and a drive member.

In one embodiment, a system provided herein is configured to transport a material between the outside of an endoscopic surgery patient and the inside of the endoscopic surgery patient, the system comprising a compliant overtube having a primary lumen and a proximal end and a distal end; a material capture device including a retaining mechanism disposed within the primary lumen; and a drive member configured to shuttle the material capture device between the proximal end and the distal end. The drive member can be a helical drive member disposed within the primary lumen. The capture device can further include a tab that can be disposed between adjoining coils of the helical drive member and the slot further can be disposed into a slot defined in the wall of the primary lumen. The slot can constrain the orientation of the material capture device within the primary lumen.

In another embodiment, the system can have a drive member that is a hydraulic or pneumatic system.

In some embodiments, the retaining mechanism comprises a passive spring-type grasper, which, in some embodiments, can comprise a shape memory alloy. A passive spring-type grasper retaining mechanism can be shaped into a plateau-like profile.

In some embodiments, the system can include a motor that drives the drive member housed within an electronic housing. Motor controls can be disposed on or within the electronic housing, or the motor can be controlled using components remote from the electronic housing.

In some embodiments, the system is configured for use in transgastric endoscopic surgery.

In some embodiments, the system includes a compliant overtube comprising silicone.

In one embodiment, a method for transporting a material between the outside of an endoscopic surgery patient and the inside of the endoscopic surgery patient is provided. The method comprises inserting through an incision in the endoscopic surgery patient a distal end of a compliant overtube having: a primary lumen; a material capture device comprising a retaining mechanism disposed within the primary lumen; and a drive member configured to shuttle the material capture device between the proximal end and the distal end. The method further comprises retaining the material in the retaining mechanism of the material capture device and actuating the drive member to advance the material capture device and the retained material from the inside of the patient to the outside of the patient or from the outside of the patient to the inside of the patient. The drive member can be a helical drive member disposed within the primary lumen, or the drive member can be a hydraulic or pneumatic system.

In some embodiments, the distal end of the compliant overtube is inserted through an incision that is in a tissue that is accessible through a natural orifice.

In some embodiments, the retaining mechanism comprises a passive spring-type grasper, which, in some embodiments, can comprise a shape memory alloy.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the material handling system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a distal portion of a material handling system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a material capture device of a material handling system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of a material handling system with the exterior shown transparently to reveal inner components, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view of a material capture device orientation mechanism for a material handling system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a cross sectional view of a material capture device orientation mechanism for a material handling system, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a distal portion of the material handling system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a motor assembly, a micro-control unit, and a power source for a material handling system, according to one embodiment.

It is to be understood that the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated, relative to other elements, to improve the understanding of aspects and sample embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various systems and devices disclosed herein relate to devices for use in medical procedures and systems. More specifically, the various embodiments relate to systems that can be used to handle and/or deliver materials in endoscopic surgery, such as natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). Various embodiments of the disclosed systems and devices can be used to handle and/or deliver or transport one or more materials between the outside of an endoscopic surgery patient and the inside of the endoscopic surgery patient. In some embodiments, the provided systems improve the ability of a medical professional to perform surgical procedures in the peritoneal cavity of a patient, executed through a natural orifice or other access point in conjunction with other surgical equipment.

Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices for use in endoscopic surgery, including certain embodiments for use in natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a material handling and/or delivery system 100 having a proximal end 10 and a distal end 20. In the material handling system 100 depicted in FIG. 1, the system includes an electronics housing 30 and a material handling component 50.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the material handling component 50 comprises a compliant overtube 200 having a proximal end 60 and a distal end 70 and including a primary lumen 210 disposed therethrough. In some embodiments, one or more additional lumens 230, 240 are also disposed within and along the length of overtube 200, as best shown in FIG. 2. The compliant overtube 200 comprises one or more materials that impart flexibility and frictional properties that are conducive to abrasion resistance, while reducing the amount of trauma caused to a patient by the overtube 200 during a surgical procedure. In one embodiment, the overtube 200 is capable of bending to the contours of a natural orifice, such as the esophagus, as well as the peritoneal cavity.

Materials suitable for use in the overtube 200 include, for example, silicone, PTFE, or vinyl. The type of material selected for use in the overtube 200 may depend on the specific use. For example, silicone may be used in an overtube 200 for use in transgastric NOTES in order to provide sufficient flexibility along the length of the esophagus. In addition, in some embodiments, the properties of the material used for the overtube 200 may be modified using known techniques to provide the desired flexibility, frictional properties, and/or abrasion resistance. For example, the coefficient of friction of materials (e.g., silicone and other rubbery materials) can be decreased by the addition of wet and/or dry lubricants, or permanently bonded coatings.

Overtube 200 is shaped and dimensioned as appropriate for the desired use. For example, an overtube 200 for use in transgastric NOTES can have an outer surface of any shape to accommodate the primary lumen 210 and any other lumens, so long as the overall diameter allows the overtube 200 to traverse an esophagus having an average bend radius of about 7.5 cm.

As best shown in FIGS. 2-4, in one embodiment, a material capture device 220 is slidably housed within the primary lumen 210 of the overtube 200. A retaining mechanism 208 is coupled with the material capture device 220 to releasably secure one or more materials (e.g., sutures, excised tissue, tool tips, waste bags, diagnostic sensors, or the like) to the material capture device 220. As best shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the retaining mechanism 208 is a passive spring-type grasper comprising, for example a shape memory alloy (e.g., nickel-titanium, copper-zinc-aluminum-nickel, or copper-aluminum-nickel). In this embodiment, the retaining mechanism 208 is a thin ribbon of super-elastic shape memory alloy shaped into a plateau-like profile in its resting state (shown as dark heavy lines in FIG. 3). The spring-type grasper retaining mechanism 208 shown in FIG. 3 deforms (shown in light lines 208 a) to accommodate the insertion of a material 600. In some embodiments, the retaining mechanism 208 can comprise a plurality of passive spring-type graspers and/or an alternative passive spring-type grasper configuration, such as a multipronged grasper (e.g., 3- or 4-pronged grasper; not shown). Alternatively, the retaining mechanism 208 can be an actively actuated grasper, such as in a hinged jaw configuration (not shown). In some embodiments, the retaining mechanism 208 is actuated using a linear, rotary, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuator (not shown).

Material capture device 220 and retaining mechanism 208 are configured such that, as the material capture device 220 slides between the proximal and distal ends 60, 70 of the compliant overtube 200, the one or more materials are transported between the proximal and distal ends 60, 70 of compliant overtube 200. The material capture device 220 is dimensioned and shaped as appropriate to accommodate a desired retaining mechanism 208 and to allow access to the retaining mechanism 208 at both the proximal 60 and distal 70 ends of the compliant overtube. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the material capture device 220 is shaped as a hollow section of tube within which a retaining mechanism 208 can be inserted and affixed.

As best shown in FIG. 4, a rotating helical drive member 206 is disposed within the primary lumen 210 of compliant overtube 200. In one embodiment, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, the material capture device 220 is dimensioned to fit within drive member 206 and is operably associated with the drive member 206 via an attached tab 204 a that can be disposed between adjoining coils of the helical drive member 206. Slot 204 b defined in the wall of primary lumen 210 constrains the orientation of tab 204 a, and thereby the orientation of material capture device 220, such that rotation of drive member 206 causes translation of the material capture device 220 axially along the compliant overtube 200.

Alternatively, as best shown in FIG. 5B, the overtube 200 comprises offset tabs 500 a disposed along the length of the interior of primary lumen 210 and material capture device 220 comprises shuttle tabs 500 b to orient the material capture device 220 with respect to the compliant overtube 200.

In a further alternative, the material capture device 220 can have any known structure for allowing the device 220 to be urged along the length of the overtube 200.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the drive member 206 of FIG. 4 is retained within the compliant overtube 200 by an overtube cap 202 on the distal end 70 of compliant overtube 200 and with an overtube coupling 42 on the proximal end 60. In one embodiment the overtube cap 202 is configured to provide an access point to interface with other surgical equipment (not shown), such as an in vivo robot, while minimizing the overall diameter of the end of the material delivery system 100 that may be inserted into a patient, thus reducing procedural trauma on surrounding tissues. In some embodiments, the overtube cap 202 is configured to retain the drive member 206 while allowing medical professionals to access the material capture device 220. In another embodiment, the overtube coupling 42 is configured to provide access to the material capture device 220 and provide a location to couple the compliant overtube 200 to the rest of the material handling system 100.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, drive member 206 of FIG. 4 is coupled to motor 400 via a motor coupling 40. The drive member 206 can be releasably coupled to the motor coupling 40, such that the material handling component 50 is detachable from the electronic housing 30. The motor coupling 40 can be a two-piece design, with one half rigidly attached to the motor 400, and the other rigidly attached to the drive member 206, allowing for detachment of the drive member 206 from the motor 400 such that a medical professional can access the material capture device 220. To ensure proper alignment of the compliant overtube 200 and drive member 206 to the motor 400, an overtube coupling 42 as shown in FIG. 1 can be attached near the proximal end of the overtube 200 and coupled to the base plate 32 via an overtube mount 406 located on the base plate 32 (FIG. 7). In one embodiment, the overtube mount 406 may utilize permanent magnets, embedded both in the base plate 32 and in the overtube coupling 42, enabling positive coupling and quick removal and re-attachment of the material handling component 50 to the electronic housing 30 when a medical professional accesses the material capture device 220.

In another embodiment (not shown), the drive member may be a hydraulic or pneumatic system where a secondary lumen 230 or tertiary lumen 240 as shown in FIG. 2 may be used as a hydraulic or pneumatic channel to drive the material capture device 220. In this embodiment, the motor 400 may be substituted with a hydraulic or pneumatic apparatus.

Continuing with FIGS. 1 and 7, in some embodiments, the motor 400 is housed in an electronic housing 30 comprising a baseplate 32 and a top plate 34 that are removably attached to one another. In some embodiments, the motor 400 is attached to the baseplate 32 and/or the top plate 34. The electronic housing 30 can house additional components such as a micro-control unit 402 and/or a power supply 404 for motor 400. The micro-control unit 402 and/or the power supply 404 can be attached to the base plate 32 and/or top plate 34 similarly to the motor 400. The top plate 34 and base plate 32 can be made of materials suitable for protecting electronic components from damage. In some embodiments, the base plate 32 and/or top plate 34 may be omitted from the material handling system 100.

In one embodiment, as best shown in FIG. 1, the top plate supports operational controls 36. Operational controls 36 can include, for example, momentary contact pushbuttons for automatic and/or manual control of the motor 400, which would propel the drive member 206. Alternatively, operational controls 36 can be located on a separate component (e.g., a computer) that is in electronic communication with one or more components housed in the electronic housing 30.

In one embodiment, the motor 400 may operate using an open-loop logic from a micro-control unit 402. The motor speed and the number of coils per unit length of the drive member 206 can be adjusted to control the rate of speed at which the material capture device 220 traverses the length of the overtube 200. For example, a rotation rate of 650 rpm with a drive member 206 having 3 coils per inch will allow the material capture device 220 to traverse an overtube 200 with a length of about 1 meter in 10 seconds. The motor speed and number of coils per unit length of the drive member 206 can additionally be adjusted to control the level of friction between the material capture device 220 and the drive member 206 and/or the overtube 200.

The micro-control unit 402 can include a motor position sensor (not shown) that can be used to calculate the position of the material capture device 220 within compliant overtube 200 based on the rotation count of the motor 400 and the coil configuration of the drive member 206. In one embodiment, as best shown in FIG. 1, the top plate houses one or more location indicators 38 that can be used to display the position of the material capture device 220 within compliant overtube 200.

The provided material handling system 100 can be used to provide the bridge between other surgical instrumentation, such as in vivo robots, and medical professionals. To facilitate this function, the compliant overtube 200 may contain a secondary lumen 230 and/or a tertiary lumen 240, as best shown in FIG. 2. These lumens may provide additional functionality for a medical professional, for example a lighting port, a video port and/or a port for suction and/or irrigation. In one embodiment, the secondary lumen 230 allows for insertion of a flexible fiberscope that has integrated lighting and video capabilities, and the tertiary lumen 240 has the structural integrity to sustain pressures from a suction/irrigation pump. Further lumens may also be provided.

In use, the material handling system 100 may be inserted into a person by a medical professional in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the compliant overtube 200 and the components located within may be passed through a natural orifice without active steering, relying only on the compliance in the system to guide the device into the peritoneal cavity. In another embodiment, an articulated fiberscope may be inserted into a secondary lumen 230, after which the compliant overtube 200 and the components located within may be passed through a natural orifice, as a medical professional actively steers the device with the articulated fiberscope. In yet another embodiment, the drive member 206, material capture device 200, and overtube coupling 42 may be removed from the compliant overtube 200, an articulated endoscope may be inserted into the lumen 210 where the removed components were located, after which the compliant overtube 200 may be passed through a natural orifice, as a medical professional actively steers the device using the articulated endoscope. The endoscope would then be removed, and the drive member 206, material capture device 220, and overtube coupling 42 may be reinstalled on the compliant overtube 200.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system configured to transport a material between the outside and the inside of a patient undergoing laparoscopic surgery and an insufflated abdominal cavity, the system comprising: a. a compliant overtube further comprising at least a primary lumen and a proximal end and a distal end; b. a material capture device comprising a retaining mechanism disposed within the primary lumen; and c. a helical drive member disposed within the primary lumen and configured to repeatedly shuttle the material capture device between the proximal end and the distal end and into the insufflated abdominal cavity of the patient, wherein the material capture device further comprises a tab that can be disposed between adjoining coils of the helical drive member and further can be disposed into a slot defined in the wall of the primary lumen, wherein the slot constrains the orientation of the material capture device within the primary lumen.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a passive spring-type grasper.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a shape memory alloy.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the retaining mechanism is shaped into a plateau-like profile.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein a motor that drives the drive member is housed within an electronic housing.
 6. The system of claim 5, further comprising motor controls disposed on or within the electronic housing.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the motor is controlled using components remote from the electronic housing.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the compliant overtube comprises silicone.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least a secondary lumen.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least secondary lumen is capable of providing at least one port selected from the group consisting of: a lighting port, a video port, a suction and an irrigation port.
 11. A method for transporting a material between the outside and the inside of a natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery patient having an insufflated abdomen, comprising: a. inserting through an incision in the natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery patient a distal end of a compliant overtube having: i. a primary lumen; ii. a material capture device comprising a retaining mechanism disposed within the primary lumen wherein the retaining mechanism further comprises a passive spring-type grasper and a shape memory alloy; and iii. a drive member configured to repeatedly shuttle the material capture device between the proximal end and the distal end; b. retaining the material in the retaining mechanism of the material capture device; and c. actuating the drive member to advance the material capture device and the retained material from the insufflated abdomen of the patient to the outside of the patient or from the outside of the patient to the insufflated abdomen of the patient.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the incision is in a tissue that is accessible through a natural orifice.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the drive member is a helical drive member disposed within the primary lumen.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the drive member is a hydraulic or pneumatic system.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of: sutures, excised tissue, tool tips, waste bags, and diagnostic sensors.
 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising at least a secondary lumen.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least secondary lumen is capable of providing at least one port selected from the group consisting of: a lighting port, a video port, a suction and an irrigation port.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of: sutures, excised tissue, tool tips, waste bags, and diagnostic sensors. 